How to remove auto generated code from Netbeans

java, jpanel, netbeans, swing

Solution

Using a GUI designer like Netbeans or Eclipse, will force you to accept certain conventions. One of these conventions is the automatic generation of `initComponents()` method by Netbeans.

Although Netbeans is highly configurable and allows the user to modify lots of things, the `initComponents()` method is always used by the GUI builder.

When you create a `JPanel` Form in Netbeans this is the `initComponents()` you get by default:

private void initComponents() {

    javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(this);
    this.setLayout(layout);
    layout.setHorizontalGroup(
        layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
        .addGap(0, 400, Short.MAX_VALUE)
    );
    layout.setVerticalGroup(
        layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
        .addGap(0, 300, Short.MAX_VALUE)
    );
}

If you take a close look at it you will see it has only layout instructions. You may want to change the layout. Let's say you want to have a `BorderLayout` for your `JPanel`. Go to the Navigator, change the layout by choosing the right property and this is your new `initComponents()` now:

private void initComponents() {

    setLayout(new java.awt.BorderLayout());
}

If someone is in a Swing learning phase, it is wiser to avoid using a GUI Builder. Designing the components by hand will give a better understanding of how things work. The GUI builder will always be there to automate procedures once the principles of Swing have become familiar.

Problem

Original source

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